سُورَةُ الأَحۡقَافِ

حمۤ (۱)

Ha. Mim.

تَنزِیلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ ٱلۡحَكِیمِ (۲)

THE BESTOWAL from on high of this divine writ I issues from God, the Almighty, the Wise.

مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَیۡنَهُمَاۤ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّىۚ وَٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَمَّاۤ أُنذِرُوا۟ مُعۡرِضُونَ (۳)

We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them otherwise than in accord­ance with [an inner] truth, and for a term set [by Us]: and yet, they who are bent on denying the truth turn aside from the warning which has been conveyed unto them.

قُلۡ أَرَءَیۡتُم مَّا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِی مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شِرۡكࣱ فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِۖ ٱئۡتُونِی بِكِتَـٰبࣲ مِّن قَبۡلِ هَـٰذَاۤ أَوۡ أَثَـٰرَةࣲ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِینَ (۴)

Say: “Have you [really] given thought to what it is that you invoke instead of God? Show me what these [beings or forces] have created anywhere on earth! Or had they, perchance, a share in [creating] the heavens? [If so,] bring me any divine writ pre­ceding this one, or any [other] vestige of knowledge - if what you claim is true!”

وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن یَدۡعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَن لَّا یَسۡتَجِیبُ لَهُۥۤ إِلَىٰ یَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِیَـٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَاۤىِٕهِمۡ غَـٰفِلُونَ (۵)

And who could be more astray than one who invokes, instead of God, such as will not respond to him either now or on the Day of Resurrection, and are not even conscious of being invoked?

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ ٱلنَّاسُ كَانُوا۟ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَاۤءࣰ وَكَانُوا۟ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَـٰفِرِینَ (۶)

such as, when all mankind is gathered [for judgment], will be enemies unto those [who worshipped them], and will utterly reject their worship?

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِمۡ ءَایَـٰتُنَا بَیِّنَـٰتࣲ قَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاۤءَهُمۡ هَـٰذَا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِینٌ (۷)

But whenever Our messages are conveyed to them in all their clarity, they who are bent on denying the truth speak thus of the truth as soon as it is brought to them: “This is clearly nothing but spell­binding eloquence!”

أَمۡ یَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ إِنِ ٱفۡتَرَیۡتُهُۥ فَلَا تَمۡلِكُونَ لِی مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَیۡـًٔاۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِیضُونَ فِیهِۚ كَفَىٰ بِهِۦ شَهِیدَۢا بَیۡنِی وَبَیۡنَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ (۸)

Or do they say, “He has invented all this”? Say [O Muhammad]: “Had I invented it, you would not be of the least help to me against God. He is fully aware of that [slander] into which you so reck­lessly plunge: enough is He as a witness between me and you! And [withal,] He alone is truly-forgiving, a true dispenser of grace.”

قُلۡ مَا كُنتُ بِدۡعࣰا مِّنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَمَاۤ أَدۡرِی مَا یُفۡعَلُ بِی وَلَا بِكُمۡۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا یُوحَىٰۤ إِلَیَّ وَمَاۤ أَنَا۠ إِلَّا نَذِیرࣱ مُّبِینࣱ (۹)

Say: “I am not the first of [God’s] apostles; and [like all of them,] I do not know what will be done with me or with you: for I am nothing but a plain warner.”

قُلۡ أَرَءَیۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدࣱ مِّنۢ بَنِیۤ إِسۡرَ ٰ⁠ۤءِیلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ فَـَٔامَنَ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ (۱۰)

Say: “Have you given thought [to how you will fare] if this be truly [a revelation] from God and yet you deny its truth? - even though a witness from among the children of Israel has already borne wit­ness to [the advent of] one like himself, and has believed [in him], the while you glory in your arro­gance [and reject his message]? Verily, God does not grace [such] evildoing folk with His guidance!”

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَوۡ كَانَ خَیۡرࣰا مَّا سَبَقُونَاۤ إِلَیۡهِۚ وَإِذۡ لَمۡ یَهۡتَدُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَسَیَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَاۤ إِفۡكࣱ قَدِیمࣱ (۱۱)

But they who are bent on denying the truth speak thus of those who have attained to faith: “If this [message] were any good, these [people] would not have preceded us in accepting it!” And since they refuse to be guided by it, they will always say, “This is [but] an ancient falsehood!”

وَمِن قَبۡلِهِۦ كِتَـٰبُ مُوسَىٰۤ إِمَامࣰا وَرَحۡمَةࣰۚ وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبࣱ مُّصَدِّقࣱ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِیࣰّا لِّیُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِینَ ظَلَمُوا۟ وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۱۲)

And yet, before this there was the revelation of Moses, a guide and a [sign of God’s] grace; and this [Qur’an] is a divine writ confirming the truth [of the Torah] in the Arabic tongue, to warn those who are bent on evildoing, and [to bring] a glad tiding to the doers of good:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُونَ (۱۳)

for, behold, all who say, “Our Sustainer is God”, and thereafter stand firm [in their faith] - no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve:

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِینَ فِیهَا جَزَاۤءَۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ (۱۴)

it is they who are destined for paradise, therein to abide as a reward for all that they have done.

وَوَصَّیۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَ ٰ⁠لِدَیۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهࣰا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهࣰاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ ثَلَـٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِینَ سَنَةࣰ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِیۤ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِیۤ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَ ٰ⁠لِدَیَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِی فِی ذُرِّیَّتِیۤۖ إِنِّی تُبۡتُ إِلَیۡكَ وَإِنِّی مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِینَ (۱۵)

NOW [among the best of the deeds which] We have enjoined upon man is goodness towards his parents. In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth; and her bearing him and his utter dependence on her took thirty months. and so, when he attains to full maturity and reaches forty years, he [that is righteous] prays: “O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will meet with Thy goodly acceptance; and grant me righteousness in my offspring [as well]. Verily, unto Thee have I turned in repentance: for, verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves unto Thee!”

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ ٱلَّذِینَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنۡهُمۡ أَحۡسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَن سَیِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ فِیۤ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِۖ وَعۡدَ ٱلصِّدۡقِ ٱلَّذِی كَانُوا۟ یُوعَدُونَ (۱۶)

It is [such as] these from whom We shall accept the best that they ever did, and whose bad deeds We shall overlook: [they will find themselves] among those who are destined for paradise, in fulfillment of the true promise which they were given [in this world].

وَٱلَّذِی قَالَ لِوَ ٰ⁠لِدَیۡهِ أُفࣲّ لَّكُمَاۤ أَتَعِدَانِنِیۤ أَنۡ أُخۡرَجَ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلۡقُرُونُ مِن قَبۡلِی وَهُمَا یَسۡتَغِیثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَیۡلَكَ ءَامِنۡ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقࣱّ فَیَقُولُ مَا هَـٰذَاۤ إِلَّاۤ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ (۱۷)

But [there is many a one] who says to his parents [whenever they try to imbue him with faith in God]: “Fie upon both of you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth [from the dead], although [so many] generations have passed away before me?” And [while] they both pray for God’s help [and say], “Alas for thee! For, behold, God’s promise always comes true!” - he but answers, “All this is nothing but fables of ancient times!”

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ ٱلَّذِینَ حَقَّ عَلَیۡهِمُ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فِیۤ أُمَمࣲ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِینَ (۱۸)

It is [such as] these upon whom the sentence [of doom] will fall due, together with the [other sinful] communities of invisible beings and humans that have passed away before their time. Verily, they will be lost:

وَلِكُلࣲّ دَرَجَـٰتࣱ مِّمَّا عَمِلُوا۟ۖ وَلِیُوَفِّیَهُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا یُظۡلَمُونَ (۱۹)

for, [in the life to come,] all shall have their degrees in accordance with whatever [good or evil] they did: and so, He will repay them in full for their doings, and none shall be wronged.

وَیَوۡمَ یُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَذۡهَبۡتُمۡ طَیِّبَـٰتِكُمۡ فِی حَیَاتِكُمُ ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَٱسۡتَمۡتَعۡتُم بِهَا فَٱلۡیَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ عَذَابَ ٱلۡهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَیۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَفۡسُقُونَ (۲۰)

And on the Day when those who were bent on denying the truth will be brought within sight of the fire, [they will be told:] “You have exhausted your [share of] good things in your worldly life, having enjoyed them [without any thought of the hereafter]: and so today you shall be requited with the suffering of humiliation for having gloried on earth in your arrogance, offending against all that is right, and for all your iniquitous doings!”

۞ وَٱذۡكُرۡ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذۡ أَنذَرَ قَوۡمَهُۥ بِٱلۡأَحۡقَافِ وَقَدۡ خَلَتِ ٱلنُّذُرُ مِنۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦۤ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۤا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنِّیۤ أَخَافُ عَلَیۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ یَوۡمٍ عَظِیمࣲ (۲۱)

AND REMEMBER that brother of [the tribe of] Ad, how - seeing that [other] warnings had already come and gone within his own knowledge as well as in times beyond his ken - he warned his people [who lived] among those sand-dunes: “Worship none but God! Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you on an awesome day!”

قَالُوۤا۟ أَجِئۡتَنَا لِتَأۡفِكَنَا عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِنَا فَأۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِینَ (۲۲)

They answered: “Hast thou come to seduce us away from our gods? Bring, then, upon us that [doom] with which thou threaten us, if thou art a man of truth!”

قَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأُبَلِّغُكُم مَّاۤ أُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰكُمۡ قَوۡمࣰا تَجۡهَلُونَ (۲۳)

Said he: “Knowledge [of when it is to befall you] rests with God alone: I but convey unto you the message with which I have been entrusted; but I see that you are people ignorant [of right and wrong]!”

فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ عَارِضࣰا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ أَوۡدِیَتِهِمۡ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا عَارِضࣱ مُّمۡطِرُنَاۚ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا ٱسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُم بِهِۦۖ رِیحࣱ فِیهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ (۲۴)

And so, when they beheld it in the shape of a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they exclaimed, “This is but a heavy cloud which will bring us [wel­come] rain!” [But Hud said:] “Nay, but it is the very thing which you [so contemptuously] sought to hasten - a wind bearing grievous suffering,

تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَیۡءِۭ بِأَمۡرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصۡبَحُوا۟ لَا یُرَىٰۤ إِلَّا مَسَـٰكِنُهُمۡۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ نَجۡزِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ (۲۵)

bound to destroy everything at its Sustainer’s behest!” And then they were so utterly wiped out that nothing could be seen save their [empty] dwellings: thus do We requite people lost in sin.

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّـٰهُمۡ فِیمَاۤ إِن مَّكَّنَّـٰكُمۡ فِیهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعࣰا وَأَبۡصَـٰرࣰا وَأَفۡـِٔدَةࣰ فَمَاۤ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَاۤ أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ وَلَاۤ أَفۡـِٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَیۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُوا۟ یَجۡحَدُونَ بِـَٔایَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ یَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ (۲۶)

And yet, We had established them securely in a manner in which We have never established you, [O people of later times;] and We had endowed them with hearing, and sight, and [knowledgeable] hearts: but neither their hearing, nor their sight, nor their hearts were of the least avail to them, seeing that they went on rejecting God’s messages; and [in the end] they were overwhelmed by the very thing which they had been wont to deride.

وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مَا حَوۡلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفۡنَا ٱلۡـَٔایَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَرۡجِعُونَ (۲۷)

Thus have We destroyed many a [sinful] community living round about you; and yet, [before destroying them,] We had given many facets to [Our warning] messages, so that they might turn back [from their evil ways].

فَلَوۡلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِینَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرۡبَانًا ءَالِهَةَۢۖ بَلۡ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنۡهُمۡۚ وَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ إِفۡكُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ یَفۡتَرُونَ (۲۸)

But, then, did those [beings] whom they had chosen to worship as deities beside God, hoping that they would bring them nearer [to Him], help them [in the end]? Nay, they forsook them: for that [alleged divinity] was but an outcome of their self-delusion and all their false imagery.

وَإِذۡ صَرَفۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡكَ نَفَرࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ یَسۡتَمِعُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوۤا۟ أَنصِتُوا۟ۖ فَلَمَّا قُضِیَ وَلَّوۡا۟ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِم مُّنذِرِینَ (۲۹)

AND LO! We caused a group of unseen beings to incline towards thee, [O Muhammad,] so that they might give ear to the Qur’an; and so, as soon as they became aware of it, they said [unto one another], “Listen in silence!” And when [the recitation] was ended, they returned to their people as warners.

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰقَوۡمَنَاۤ إِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا كِتَـٰبًا أُنزِلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقࣰا لِّمَا بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡهِ یَهۡدِیۤ إِلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِیقࣲ مُّسۡتَقِیمࣲ (۳۰)

They said: “O our people! Behold, we have been listening to a revelation bestowed from on high after [that of] Moses, confirming the truth of what­ever there still remains [of the Torah]: it guides towards the truth, and onto a straight way.

یَـٰقَوۡمَنَاۤ أَجِیبُوا۟ دَاعِیَ ٱللَّهِ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ یَغۡفِرۡ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمۡ وَیُجِرۡكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِیمࣲ (۳۱)

“O our people! Respond to God’s call, and have faith in Him: He will forgive you [whatever is past] of your sins, and deliver you from grievous suffering [in the life to come].

وَمَن لَّا یُجِبۡ دَاعِیَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَیۡسَ بِمُعۡجِزࣲ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَیۡسَ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِیَاۤءُۚ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ فِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ مُّبِینٍ (۳۲)

But he who does not respond to God’s call can never elude [Him] on earth, nor can he has any protector against Him [in the life to come]: all such are most obviously lost in error.”

أَوَلَمۡ یَرَوۡا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَمۡ یَعۡیَ بِخَلۡقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰۤ أَن یُحۡـِۧیَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰۚ بَلَىٰۤۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ قَدِیرࣱ (۳۳)

ARE, THEN, they [who deny the life to come] not aware that God, who has created the heavens and the earth and never been wearied by their creation, has [also] the power to bring the dead back to life? Yea, verily, He has the power to will anything!

وَیَوۡمَ یُعۡرَضُ ٱلَّذِینَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ أَلَیۡسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلۡحَقِّۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَاۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلۡعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡفُرُونَ (۳۴)

And so, on the Day when those who were bent on denying the truth will be brought within sight of the fire [and will be asked], “Is not this the truth?” - they will answer, “Yea, by Our Sustainer!” [And] He will say: “Taste, then, this suffering as an outcome of your denial of the truth!”

فَٱصۡبِرۡ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلۡعَزۡمِ مِنَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِل لَّهُمۡۚ كَأَنَّهُمۡ یَوۡمَ یَرَوۡنَ مَا یُوعَدُونَ لَمۡ یَلۡبَثُوۤا۟ إِلَّا سَاعَةࣰ مِّن نَّهَارِۭۚ بَلَـٰغࣱۚ فَهَلۡ یُهۡلَكُ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (۳۵)

REMAIN, then, [O believer,] patient in adversity, just as all of the apostles, endowed with firmness of heart, bore themselves with patience. And do not ask for a speedy doom of those [who still deny the truth]: on the Day when they see [the fulfillment of] what they were promised, [it will seem to them] as though they had dwelt [on earth] no longer than one hour of [an earthly] day! [This is Our] message. Will, then, any be [really] destroyed save iniquitous folk?”